Thursday, March 26, 2015

Vintage Dodger Straw Hat at Hunt Auctions - Would You Wear This?


I would definitely wear this.  Heck, I'd wear it so often I'd probably wear it out.

Featured here is said to be a circa 1960's Los Angeles Dodgers straw hat current for sale at Hunt Auctions.  Check it out here.

I can imagine it now.  I'd be sitting up on the Top Deck (or the Upper Reserve, as I like to call it) with a beer in one hand, a Dodger dog in another and this fashionably vintage hat to protect my quickly balding scalp. 

No doubt I'd be the envy of all who sat around me.  There'd be constant whispers and pointing until a brave soul finally built up the courage to ask me where I got it.  I could then remark, "It's vintage and might be the last of its kind."

I'd then sit back into my seat with a stupid smug smile.  My transformation into a full-on hipster would be complete.  Or maybe, I'd just get the hat to put on the top shelf of my ever-growing Dodger display.  Yeah, that would be the ticket.

On second thought, I would definitely wear it.  But I promise I won't have a '70's styled mustache or be wearing an Hawaiian shirt.  OK, maybe an Hawaiian shirt, but no mustache.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *
* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 25 / Road Game 13


Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.  See what they've written below.

--------------------------
Los Angeles Dodgers (12-6-6) at Chicago White Sox (8-11-3)
Thursday, March 26, 2015 – 1:05 p.m. MT | Camelback Ranch

LHP Clayton Kershaw (2-0, 2.03) vs. RHP Brad Penny (1-0, 4.63)
TV: SNLA


--------------------------
(Camelback Ranch, via Chris Williams on twitter)

NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN NEIGHBOR: The Dodgers, who have the Majors’ best spring winning percentage at .667, take on the Chicago White Sox today for the third and final time this spring. The two clubs kicked off the Cactus League schedule on March 4 and 5, splitting the pair of games, a 6-4 Dodger loss in the opener and a 6-1 victory the next day. In just 11 days, the Dodgers will take on the Padres April 6 - Opening Day at Dodger Stadium.

THOSE WINNING WAYS: The Dodgers flexed their muscles in a 9-5 victory over the San Diego Padres yesterday at Camelback Ranch, hitting four home runs and three doubles in the contest. Yasiel Puig and Joc Pederson each hit their team-lead tying fourth homers of the spring while Justin Turner cracked his third and Scott Van Slyke his second. On the mound, Juan Nicasio allowed two runs in 3.0 innings for the victory while J.P. Howell (1.0 IP), David Aardsma (1.0), Paco Rodriguez (1.0) and Yimi Garcia (1.0) all tossed scoreless relief. Rodriguez (7.0 IP) and Garcia (8.1) have not allowed a run all spring. 
  • The four home runs give the Dodgers 37 this spring, which leads the Major Leagues. The Cubs are the next closest at 30.
(Puig's HR, via Dodgers on tumblr)

ALL ABOARD: Today the Dodgers announced that the Dodger Stadium Express will return in 2015! LA Metro offers two express services to Dodger Stadium:  The Dodger Stadium Express Union Station and the Dodger Stadium Express South Bay are complimentary services from downtown Los Angeles and the South Bay directly to Dodger Stadium. The Dodger Stadium Express Union Station bus service includes the benefit of enjoying a dedicated bus lane on Sunset Boulevard from Union Station to Elysian Park Ave.  Dodger game-day tickets will be honored as payment to ride the bus service and it will operate 90 minutes before the game and 45 minutes after the game.  Fans can also park at Union Station for $6 and take the Dodger Stadium Express free with a game ticket. For specific route and schedule information, fans can visit www.metro.net/around/dodger-stadium-express or call 323.GO.METRO
  • The club will also be adding dedicated prepaid lanes for fans purchasing parking passes in advance for games during the 2015 season. Fans should follow the signage to these designated auto booths at all gates for the dedicated prepaid lanes. To enjoy these dedicated prepaid lanes, the Dodgers encourage fans to purchase their parking in advance to assist in traffic flow and expedite movement through the auto gates. Advance parking prices are $10 and parking at the gate is $20.  The Dodgers also will offer premium parking in advance at $35 and $50 at the gate.  To purchase parking in advance, visit www.dodgers.com/parking.

THEY SAY IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY: The Dodgers would like to wish a very happy birthday to former infielder and current Special Assistant, Player Personnel Jose Vizcaino. “Vizzy” joined the Dodger front office after retiring as a player in 2006 and, in his playing days, spent his first two years in Los Angeles (1989-90) before joining the squad again from 1998-2000. Vizcaino’s career spanned 18 seasons and he played for the Dodgers (1989-90, 1998-2000), Cubs (1991-93), Mets (1994-96), Indians (1996), Giants (1997, 2006), Yankees (2000), Astros (2001-05) and Cardinals (2006). 
(Pederson's HR, via Dodgers on tumblr)

THE YOUNG BUCK: Joc Pederson has posted a .409/.447/.773 slashline this spring and ranks among the NL leaders in runs (11, T-1st), hits (18, 2nd), batting average (.409, 3rd), total bases (34, 2nd), on-base percentage (.447, T-8th) and slugging percentage (.773, 1st).
  • Justin Turner went 2-for-3 with a homer and two runs scored yesterday and is batting .486 with four doubles, three homers and eight RBI, while posting a .513 on-base percentage and a .857 slugging percentage in 14 Cactus League games.
  • Second baseman Howie Kendrick went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI yesterday and is now hitting .405 this spring to go along with five doubles and eight RBI. Kendrick is career .297 hitter in the month of April and has hit more homers (19) in the season’s first month than any other. 

ON THE MOUND: LHP Clayton Kershaw will make his fifth Cactus League start today. Kershaw has allowed three runs on 10 hits through 13.1 innings so far this spring. He last pitched on Friday against the Athletics, when he was struck by a line drive, chipping one of his teeth. He stayed in the game and finished with four strikeouts through 5.0 innings of work.
  • Hard-throwing RHP Joel Peralta is expected to make his fifth appearance of the spring today. Through four Cactus League appearances, Peralta has tossed 4.0 innings, surrendering two runs on three hits and striking out four.
  • RHP Pedro Baez is also expected to see action today. Baez has held opposing hitters to a .086 batting average this spring, allowing only four hits in 6.2 innings.
  • RHP Chris Hatcher will make his seventh Cactus League appearance today. Hatcher has allowed six runs through 5.1 innings this spring.
(Camelback Ranch, via @Dodgers on twitter)

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *
* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

MLB15 Video: Puig Says Sorry for Not Playing the Game Right


MLB 15 is around the corner, so why not release another promotional video featuring cover boy Yasiel Puig.  Watch it below. 

This time we get a more personal look at the man... The myth... The legend.  He speaks a bit about Cuba and the family and friends he left behind.  Even more interestingly, he apologizes to the critics who are irked by him - for whatever reason.  Puig says:
To the people who say, I'm not playing the game the right way...

All I can tell them is...

I'm Sorry...

I don't know how you want me to play Baseball...

This is the way that I play
This whole thing is a bit "tongue and cheek," so it's unlikely to assuage any of the furor that always seems to surround him. 

Watch the entire video below.

Video Link:

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *
* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 3/26/2015 - Dodger Links - Puig, Olivera and Crawford's Reality TV Show


Yasiel Puig had a big day yesterday.  He made a heads-up fielding play in the 1st inning to get an out and walloped a massive two-run home run soon thereafter that went out of the stadium to left field.  Watch it here.

I wonder if the recent announcement of the Dodgers signing Hector Olivera got him excited.  As reported by Dylan Hernandez at the LA Times, Puig knows Olivera very well. 
"His father was my hitting coach," Puig explained in Spanish.
Puig says further.
"He was a tremendous influence on me."
The photo above was posted by the Dodgers on twitter.  Below are some more links to check out:
The Los Angeles Dodgers, worth $2.4 billion, are the second most valuable three years after Guggenheim Baseball Management bought the team and Dodger Stadium for $2 billion from Frank McCourt. The Dodgers raked in more than $120 million in television money last season, the the most in baseball, as part of  the team’s 25 year, $8.35 billion deal with Time Warner Cable. The team also lead MLB in attendance, with 3.78 million fans coming through the turnstiles during the regular season.
  • I really dislike reality television.  Via TMZ, Evelyn Lozada, along with fiancee Carl Crawford, will star in a new reality television show on Oprah Winfrey's OWN Network.
So far, no word if any of Crawford's L.A. Dodgers teammates are scheduled to appear on the show ... but with attention-loving stars like Yasiel Puig on the Blue Crew ... we wouldn't rule it out.
Oy Vey!
“I think if it was serious I wouldn’t be able to pick up a ball,” League said. “It’s not painful, it’s just hindering. I know my body pretty well and I don’t think this is anything serious.”

    * Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *
    * Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *